Startups & Innovations

PRODUCTS

Seal Beach-based Cuddly Inc., a fundraising platform for animal organizations that likens itself to Amazon, GoFundMe, and WishGo all in one, recently announced its new pet adoption tracker product, created in collaboration with San Francisco-based globaliD Inc.  

Currently in beta testing, the product allows rescue shelters to identify and verify potential pet adopters using globaliD’s technology.

In addition to identification materials, the technology also collects lifestyle characteristics, so that the Cuddly ID platform can produce the best owner and pet matches. For example, some animals can’t climb up the stairs, so they might be happier in a ranch home, the Cuddly team told the Business Journal last week.

The team is currently developing a virtual home inspection feature on the platform to assist shelters in placing animals in homes best suited to their needs. 

“Because our shelter partners have a volunteer-driven workforce, the animal adoption process is inherently inefficient,” added founder and Chief Executive John Hussey. “We’re using technology to improve the process, and solve a pain point.”

The company was founded in 2014. It also sells a range of products including CBD-infused pet products through a partnership with Irvine-based MyJane, featured in the Aug. 26 edition of the Business Journal.

Cuddly has raised $2.1 million to date, and will open a Series A round next year. The team said it is seeking a fundraising consultant. 

Costa Mesa-based photography company Still Novel recently launched a line of products for wedding couples.

The announcement comes six months after the company launched its first product, its signature art print, which tells the story of a child and their birthdate.

After uploading a photo, users have the chance to include personal details about their loved one or child.

The wedding print allows for additions such as the time of the ceremony, while the signature art print includes a child’s birth and due date, among other details.

Still Novel takes it from there, using software to create a tailor-made print for every customer. Prints start around $60.

The software “is our shining star. It’s allowed us to be the first in our space to merge rich content with user images in a way that adheres to professional design standards,” said co-founder and Chief Executive Tiffany Peña. “The custom API’s we’ve built allow for the quick creation of highly customized content in minutes.”

Peña, who has more than nine years of experience in film and television, and Chief Creative Officer Edyn Elliot-Barber, who has a background in visual arts and storytelling, combined their talents and founded the company in 2014. The pair met at a local library during story time with their two sons, and shortly after, Still Novel was born.

Since its launch, the company has partnered with West Elm to host pop-up shops throughout the Southern California area.

In the future, Still Novel plans to launch travel, pets and family prints, in addition to photo books and other gifts.

PARTNERSHIPS

Irvine-based vacation rental software company BookingPal was recently named the exclusive provider of connectivity technology for property management suppliers on the new Homes & Villas by Marriott International rental platform—similar to Airbnb.

The company’s technology allows property management companies to list and monitor for-rent properties across vacation rental sites. It also includes an inventory management portal, reservation and payment engine, and customer service portal.

“We are very excited that Marriott has chosen BookingPal as their exclusive channel integration partner for Homes & Villas by Marriott International. Our technology solution will help drive performance of this exciting new offering for Marriott,” said Chief Executive Alex Aydin.

BookingPal earlier this year raised a $12 million funding round led by Valor Capital Group, and is continuing to expand at its offices near the University of California-Irvine.

Board members include Mark Moshayedi, a co-founder and former president of storage device maker STEC Inc.

Irvine-based NarrativeWave Inc., which provides self-service analytics for the industrial Internet of Things applications, recently partnered with clean energy developer and manager Enel Green Power North America.

Enel’s North American geothermal plants can be difficult to manage because its submersible pumps operate 1,700 feet underground in 310-degree water.

Using Narrative Wave’s predictive maintenance software, the company will be able to better predict the maintenance needs of these pumps and streamline the detection-to-repair process. 

“We enjoyed the partnership with Enel Green Power, one of the largest global operators of renewable energy and a proven innovation leader, to collectively solve a specific challenge focused on their geothermal business,” said Benjamin Decio, chief executive of NarrativeWave.

“We look forward to strengthening our collaboration with Enel Green Power to jointly develop a solution that can now predict on average 54 days in advance of a possible defect, setting the stage for future operational improvements.”

NarrativeWave was founded in 2014, and its headquarters is at the Irvine Spectrum. 

FINANCING

Laguna Hills-based Amberstone Biosciences has been awarded a $225,000 Small Business Innovation Research grant from the National Science Foundation for its research and commercialization of a new immunotherapy technique that targets cancer cells.

Immunotherapies harness the patients’ own immune system to fight illnesses, and have proven to be extremely effective in recent years. But immunotherapies—like T-cell therapy or cancer vaccines—act differently and it can take several years to discover a new and effective immunotherapy.

Amberstone aims to change that with its proprietary single-cell analysis technology, which will reduce the discovery time and associated costs. That means they can uncover more immunotherapies, and more personalized treatments for cancer patients.

“This concept of immunotherapy has been around for a long time, but only recently have we been able to harness the power of our immune system to fully eradicate cancer,” said co-founder Weian Zhao. “It’s a really exciting time, because many patients want this treatment, but don’t have the time to wait around. Now every patient can receive treatment.”

The University of California-Irvine startup is led by Chief Executive G. George Wu, and will use the SBIR grant to test the feasibility of its technology.

This could allow the company to partner with major pharmaceutical companies and apply for a Phase II SBIR grant.

The company has been funded by private investors thus far, and is currently seeking funds.

Laguna Nigel-based Fuel50, an employee retention platform, recently announced a $14 million Series B round of funding. Silicon Valley-based PeakSpan Capital led the round.

The company’s “talent experience” platform uses artificial intelligence to provide employees with suitable career paths based on personal aspirations and character traits.

The platform doubles as a tool for employers by providing employee insights to HR managers and leadership.

“Fuel50 is at the vanguard of a huge opportunity to reframe the talent experience,” said Phil Dur, managing partner at PeakSpan Capital, in a statement. “We think career pathing and talent development will become table stakes for leading business in any vertical and we’re privileged to partner with the team that pioneered this category.”

Chief Executive Anne Fulton and Jo Mills, president of product and client strategy, founded the company in 2014. The company is nearing 50 employees and operates in 6 countries.

EVENTS

CAREER BOOSTS

Sept. 26-Oct. 2, 2019

Thursday, Sept. 26

• Buy/Sell & Valuation of a Business (SCORE Chapter 114), Tustin, 1:30 p.m., free, (714) 550-7369, orangecounty.score.org

Monday, Sept. 30

• Startup Scrimmage (UCI Applied Innovation), Irvine, 5:15 p.m., free, (949) 824-2683, innovation.uci.edu/events

• Digital Marketing Tips to Help Take Your Business to the Next Level (Creative Marketing Services), Orange, 6 p.m., free, (949) 916-7970, creative mktgservices.com

Wednesday, Oct. 2

• Deep Dive Orange County (EvoNexus Orange County), Irvine, 10 a.m., free, bit.ly/EvoNexusOC-DeepDive

• MedTech Minds (Medical Innovation Exchange), Irvine, 5:30 p.m., $15, medinnovationexchange.com

RECURRING

• 1 Million Cups (UCI Applied Innovation), Irvine, every Wednesday, 7:45 a.m., free, (949) 824-2683, innovation.uci.edu